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Nieves named manager of Class A Dayton

Nieves named manager of Class A Dayton

Former Cubs and Angels infielder Jose Nieves was named the manager of Class A Dayton, the Dragons announced Wednesday. Additionally, Tony Fossas will rejoin the Dragons as pitching coach.

The Dragons will name a hitting coach at a later date. The Reds also announced that Tyler Steele will return to the Dragons for his fifth season as athletic trainer.

Delino DeShields, the Dragons' manager in 2011-12, will serve as the manager of the Reds' Double-A affiliate, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, in 2013. Alex Pelaez and Tom Browning, members of the Dragons' coaching staff last season, will also return to the Reds organization in '13 with other affiliates.

Nieves, 37, managed the Reds' Arizona League club in Goodyear in each of the last two seasons after serving as manager of the Reds' affiliate in the Venezuelan Summer League in 2010. He also played parts of five seasons in the Majors from 1998-2002 with the Cubs and Angels.

"Jose Nieves is a tremendous worker who is devoted to developing our young players," said Jeff Graupe, Reds assistant director of player development. "Jose's experiences in the game allow him to relate to players of all ages and his high baseball IQ is shown through the quality of his in-game managing."

Fossas, 55, returns to the Dragons after serving as the Dayton pitching coach for three seasons from 2009-11. He served as pitching coach at Rookie-level Billings last season, where his staff finished second in the Pioneer League in ERA.

In Fossas' last season with Dayton in '11, the Dragons broke the Midwest League record for strikeouts in a season and broke the franchise record for best ERA while leading the league in ERA, strikeouts, shutouts, and fewest runs allowed.
The Dragons open their 14th season in the Midwest League on April 4 at West Michigan, with opening night at Fifth Third Field set for April 11.